Printing plate cooler



Oct. 15, 1940. c. BUSH 2,218,417

PRH-'TINE PLATE COOLER Filed Nov. l, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l r mrey ush Oct. 15, 1940.

C. BUSH PRINTING PLATE COOLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l, 1939 flllllll Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED Y STATES PATENT OFFICE PRINTING PLATE COOLER Charley Bush, Akron, Ohio Application November 1, 1939, serial No 302,459

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus adapted to cool printing plates immediately after the casting thereof to expedite the handling and use of the same.

It is particularly aimed to provide novel means wherein the cooling uid is dispersed evenly, in a spray and without undue or harmful force against the plates, and more specifically, by means of a novel discharge bell and co-acting gauze or screen.

A further object is to provide a novel'structure' wherein the plates to be cooled are contained within a base or main section which has a hood mounted thereover as a closure and contains the discharge means for the cooling fluid.

I further aim to provide a construction wherein the cooling fluid such as water, is augmented by air under pressure or steam to give it the proper force, a construction wherein novel ventilation is afforded for undue` heat and steam and a construction for the `elfective collection of surplus water or fluid.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparentfrom a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings: I

Figure l is a View of the apparatus, in side elevation; r l

Figure l2 is a View of the same apparatus and in end elevation;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3`3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, the apparatus generally comprises a 40 main or base section A and a hood or cover section B, said sections being connected together by hinge means at I movable on a horizontal axis so that the hood B may be raised and lowered for the insertion or removal of a tray or con- 45 tainer I I in which the printing plates after casting are placed for cooling. For example, such printing plates may be those cast from electrotype metal in electrotype foundries.

Applicants invention includes the base section 50 A which has four corner posts I2 connected at their tops by transverse members I3, on all of which, a table I4 is disposed. On the table I4,

a rectangular frame I5 is fastened and on the inner surface thereof battens or strips I6 are 55 fastened upon which the aforesaid tray I I re- `movably rests. Through the said frame I5 openings or `vents I'I are provided for the escapeof steam and dissipation of heat.

Supported on said base section A is an inlet `or supply pipe I8 for cooling fluid such as water 'I 5 and an inlet or supply pipe for a pressure medium to` cause travel of the water through the apparatus at the desired pressure, as at I9. Such pressure medium may be compressed air or steam. Said pipes respectively have fittings and 2l l0 whereby they may be connected to their sources of supply and such pipes have regulating and cutolf valves therein as at 22 and 23.

Said pipes I8 andl I9 are joined together by` piping as at 24 constituting a mixing chamber xl5 for such water and pressure medium. The water under pressure is adapted to be supplied to the hood and used to cool the printing plates within the tray I I. Water which drains therefrom onto the table I4, will flow into a well 25 supported `20 from below by a board or bracket 26, connected to one of the transverse braces 21 employed for the legs or corner posts I2. Braces 28 may also be secured to said corner posts at the same elevation as those at 21.

The hood section B is generally frusto-pyramidal inasmuch as the upper portion 28 of its main wall 29 extends upwardly and inwardly. A bar 30 is fastened transversely of the wall 29 adjacent the top thereof and a bolt or other fasten- 30 ing 3|, Asuspends a bell shaped spreader 32 therefrom which has .a metallic or other wire fabric, screen or gauze 33 fastened across the lower end thereof. A discharge nozzle 34 extends through the gauze 33 centrally thereof, to discharge the 35 cooling uid against the inner surface of the bell. Such nozzle 34 extends from a pipe 35 fastened in the Wall 29 and which has a right angular portion 36, exterorly of the hood extending rearwardly toward the hinge I0. On the free end of the pipe 36 and the mixer pipe 24, the opposite ends of a flexible hose 3l are removably connected. Such a flexible hose, enables movement of the hood on its axis without dismantling any of the parts of the supply piping or conduit for the cooling fluid.

Within the main wall 29 of the hood, battens 38 are fastened and a rectangular frame 39 is secured thereto which has upper and lower wire fabric, screen or gauze of metal or other suitable material, extending thereacross.

As a result of the construction described, the `tray II may be readily applied or removed from the structure with the hood B in open position, such tray containing the castings or printing plates to be cooled. The water is supplied through the pipe I8 and steam or compressed air supplied through the pipe I 9, the valves 22 and 23 being operated to control the same. Such water and air or steam mixes in the piping 24 and passes therefrom through the hose 31, pipe 36, pipe 35 and nozzle 34, discharging against the upper surface of the interior of the bell 32, thereby being spread and dripping downwardly and evenly through the successive screens, gauze or Wire fabric at 33, 40 and 4I and onto the plates or castings within the tray. It will be realized that the screens 33,40 and 4 I, in combination with the bell, effectively spread the cooling fluid, causing it to spread or ow evenly against the castings, to avoid too sudden chilling of the latter or concentration of the chilling action at any particular point. Steam and pressure and heat win be dissipated through the ports l1 and sim- .ilar ports I'Ia provided in the lower edge of the vthey fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for cooling printing plates or the like, said apparatus comprising a base section, means therein to hold the printing plates, a cover section movable relatively to the base section, means to discharge cooling fluid into the cover section, means between the rst and second means to cause spreading of the cooling fluid and dripping thereof onto the printing plates, comprising a. bell against which the fluid is discharged, a perforated member at the discharge side of the bell, and perforated means within the cover section substantially coextensive with the zone of reception of the printing plates.

2. Apparatus for cooling printing plates or the like, said apparatus comprising a base section, means therein to hold the printing plates, a cover section movable relatively to the base section, means to discharge cooling uid into the cover section, means between the first and second means to cause spreading of the cooling fluid and dripping thereof onto the printing plates, comprising a bell against which the uid is discharged, a perforated member at the discharge side of the bell, perforated means within the cover section substantially coeXtensive with the zone of reception of the printing plates, said means to supply fluid including a flexible connection to enable movement of the closure section, said means including two pipes one for the supply of uid and one for the supply of a pressure medium to said uid.

3. Apparatus for cooling printing plates or the like, said apparatus comprising a base section, means therein to hold the printing plates, a cover section movable relatively to the base section, means to discharge cooling fluid into the cover section, means between the rst and second means to cause spreading of the cooling fluid and dripping thereof onto the printing plates, comprising a bell against which the fluid is discharged, a perforated member at the discharge side of the bell, perforated means within the cover section substantially coextensive with the zone of reception of the printing plates, said means to supply fluid including a flexible connection to enable movement of the closure section, said means including two pipes one for the supply of fluid and one for the supply of a pressure medium to said fluid, the structure adjacent the junction of the closure section and base section having openings for the escape of steam and heated air, and the base section having openings for the escape of steam and heated air, and a well to catch surplus cooling iiuid carried by the base section, and displaceable closure means for the top of the closure section.

4. Apparatus for cooling printing plates or the like, said apparatus comprising a base section, means therein to hold the printing plates, a cover section movable relatively to the base section, means to discharge cooling fluid into the cover section, a bell against which said cooling fluid is discharged, and a perforated means below said bell and above said second means to cause spreading of the cooling fluid and dripping thereof onto the printing plates.

CHARLEY BUSH. 

